The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-10-28
MES. Dropping the anchor and max.
the tug secure. wa nged ride

mics. Dropping the anchor and max.
ing the tug secure, we arranged rude
davits yer the stern of the boat and
searched for the missing wheel with a
| grapple hook. One of the deck hands
watched the opposite side of TIE river
while we searched diligently for the
wheel. After II quarter of an hours
search our hook struck.n piece of iron
which turned out to be the greatly.
priced wheel.
1t was SO deeply embedded in the
mud and sticks that it took some time
before we conld raise it, and the diff
Guilty OF putting it in place was increas.
ed by the darkness. 1t was finally
put in place, however, and we were
congratulating ourselves on our sue
cess, when the deck hand who was
keeping watch, suddenly whispered in
a warning voice: Here they come"
About fifty yards up stream, adark
object could be seen floating gradual
ly with the tide. At first we were un.
able to make out the meaning OF this,
but, as the current drew nearer, it
was easy to see that the object was
a raft. 1t bad been formed, no doubt,
by flashing heavy logs together, and
constructing on top breastwork OF
smaller sticks and brushwood. Be-
hind this breastwork our enemies
firearms. The current would bring
the raft directly alongside OF ourboat,
and the chances were that they could
board us before we could get a shot
at them.
Our case seemed to be getting more
desperate. We seemed to find our
way out OF one difficulty only to fall
into o more dangerous one. Grasp
ing our rifles, we stood for a full min
ute watching the approaching craft,
unable to act. i then .ane the bell TO-
start ahead. We could not proceed
up the river far, for the cable still
barred the passage-way, und to me
the only way OF escape that seemed
left was to run the raft down.
This was a desperate expedient for
the raft was composed OF logs as
large, if not larger, than the timbers
OF the tug. felt that there was one
chance in n hundred FOR US. Ii the
PROV OF our boat could strike between
two, of the heavy logs, and part the
bands that held them together, we
could escape without damaging our
boat to any great extent. With this
object in view, the machinery was set il
motion. The sternwheel began to churn
the watersavagely, and the loud snort.
ing OF the stream startled the echoesin
the forest. Then. with a few wild
bounds; the small vessel began to
shoot through the water with good
speed. Every revolution OF the wheel
added one more advantage TO ourside
OF the question. The greater the speed
we could get, the better would be our
chance OF w%ithstanding the force OF
! the collision.
The men on the raft seemed discon.
certed at the sudden change in thepro-
gramme, for dark heads could be seen
moving about above the breastworks.
They realized the danger of a collision,
but, after g moments alarm, they be
came quiet.
The water OF the muddy stream
foamed about the PROV and rolled
toward the banks in long, heavy
swells. The raft alone remained in
still water. When within three yards
Of a huge raft, the machinery was
stopped, and a loud, shrlll whistle
went up from the iron throat OF the
| engine.
The echoes had scarcely died away,
when there was q terrific shock, .ol.
lowed by a recoil, and then a forward
bound. The bow OF the boat had
struck between two OF the centrallogs,
and rent the bands that hound them
together, tearing straight through to
the stern end of the raft. Separatedin
two parts, the logs began to roll away
in different directions, while the dis.
committed boat-wreckers chung despe1.
ately to them. Two white upturned
faces in the water told us the fate Of
some OF our enemies, while the Others
ioated silently along down stream,
unable to reach the shore or do any
thing to help themselves. Fearing
lest our craft was injured, We headed
straight for the bank and made an ex-
animation. Fortunately the damage
was all above the water line, and we
could proceed on our journey with
out much risk. Thecable was quickly
parted from the tree to which it was
tied, and cast into the river.
Near the tree several boxes and
bundles were discovered, evidently be-
longing to our enemies, which, in spite
OF our excitement, we threw on the
deck OF the steamer before starting.
Just as two of the gang reached the
bank of the river all dripping with
mud and water, the PROV Of our boat
was headed up stream, and, with a
goodbye whistle to our discounted
enemies. we resumed our journey. A
few loud curses did not give us any
fear but made us smile.
The next morning we reached the
end OF our journey. Our boxes and
bundles were then opened. and an
amount of wealth discovered that
made Jul eyes dance with delight. As
we subsequently learned, number OF
daring robbers had been going on in
the neighborhood of the ARRAY for
some weeks past. The money and
jewels taken from the houses had been
collected in the forest, and it was evi.
IDENTIFY the intention Of the robbers to
carry them away to another city by
pressing our steamer into their serv-
ice. We received the rewards offered
for the contents OF the stolen boxes
and bundles.-Geo. Z. Walsh in the
Epoch.
He Didn't Call Again.
A Brooklyn young mar with amod
est bank account and bright pros